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punish

Pronunciation: /ˈpʌnɪʃ/

Translate punish | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of punish

verb

[with object]
  • inflict a penalty or sanction on (someone) as retribution for an offence, especially a transgression of a legal or moral code:I have done wrong and I’m being punished for it
  • inflict a penalty or sanction on someone for (such an offence):fraudulent acts would be punished by up to two years in prison
  • informal capitalize on (an opponent’s mistake), especially in sport:Australia punished Ireland’s handling blunders and scored three tries
  • treat (someone) in an unfairly harsh way:a rise in prescription charges would punish the poor
  • subject to severe and debilitating treatment.

Derivatives

punisher

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French puniss-, lengthened stem of punir 'punish', from Latin punire, from poena 'penalty'

punish in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of punish in the US English dictionary
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